Kendall Tinston
Romantic comedies have been lighting up movie screens for decades. There’s something about the way they can make you feel, especially when you’re in need of an uplifting, easy-to-watch story. Dennis Dugan’s new romantic comedy aims to leave viewers with that exact feeling, and succeeds.
Love, Weddings & Other Disasters follows multiple personalities as they fall in love, get married, or meet others in hopes of a romantic possibility. Each character is different, and yet their worlds all collide in a Love Actually fashion that shows that everyone is connected somehow.
The movie boasts a star-studded cast including Diane Keaton, Jesse McCartney, and Elle King among others. And yes, the famous musicians are given a platform to perform, especially King. Acting wise, the entire cast delivers noteworthy performances, though some are more memorable and affecting than others.
Unsurprisingly, superstar Diane Keaton and her love interest in the film Jeremy Irons particularly steal the show. Keaton has been acting for 50 years and very rarely disappoints, and she certainly doesn’t here. Her character is charming, lovable and quirky, and she perfectly encompasses each of those aspects in this film. Irons has also been acting for nearly 50 years and nails his role. He embraces his character’s transformation in a delightful way. The love story that the two actors portray is the most enjoyable and relatable in the picture. There are no over-the-top or extreme scenarios, just an organic love story with some laughable moments sprinkled in.
While most of the couple’s moments are romantic and leave you with a heartwarming feeling, some are more cringe inducing than others. Actor Andrew Bachelor plays a duck boat tour guide whose entire storyline leaves a bit to be desired. Not only is Bachelor’s story not relatable, it’s also anticlimactic and not romantic. One particular scene involves dozens of women who got tattoos for a chance to be with his character and they are simply throwing themselves at Bachelor. It comes across more rabid than romantic, which is a shame because Bachelor’s character is charming and feels deserving of a great love story.
Director and writer Dugan has an interesting list of movies he has worked on previously. Dugan has previously directed a handful of Adam Sandler movies, such as Grown Ups and Jack and Jill among others. Other works include The Benchwarmers and Beverly Hills Ninja. It’s safe to say that Dugan is acquainted with comedies more than romance, and yet he has created a successful mix of both with this film. Some of the jokes in this movie feel reminiscent of the same style of jokes that can be found in the Adam Sandler movies that he has directed, but he managed to mature them to fit this film better.
After having survived 2020 thus far, it’s safe to say that it feels good to watch something that makes you feel good. Love, Weddings & Other Disasters gives viewers that opportunity, even if you have to endure a few cringes. Be sure to keep an eye out for the film. It can be found in theatres and on demand beginning December 4th.
SCORE: ★★★
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